Racial Prejudice and Population Control

"Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we donít want to have too many of."

- United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, quoted in Emily Bazelon, "The Place of Women on the Court", The New York Times Magazine, July 7, 2009

"In particular, we are able to demonstrate that family planning services
in the United States were provided more frequently whenever there were
black Americans in the population. In other words, there is a strong inferential
case to be made that reactions to the racial composition of the population
have influenced decisions to provide family planning services. Ö This
fact [, that contraception dispensaries tend to be located in predominantly
minority areas, not in poor white ones,] gives apparent substance to charges
that such programs are designed not simply to assist the poor, but to
control the growth of the black population. "

"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members."

"Population control is too important to entrust to some right-wing, pro-life types. Take the recent influx of Hispanic immigrants: Their lack of respect for democracy and social order is frightening. I hope I can do something to stem that tide. I'd set up a[n abortion] clinic in Mexico for free if I could. Maybe one in Calexico would help. The survival of our society could be at stake.…The Aid to Families With Dependent Children program is the worst boondoggle ever created. When a sullen black woman can decide to have a baby and get welfare and food stamps and become a burden to all of us it's time to stop. In parts of South Los Angeles having babies for welfare is the only industry the people have."

- Dr. Edward Allred (multi-millionaire, former owner of Family Planning Associates, once upon a time the largest independent abortion clinic chain), quoted in "Doctor's Abortion Practice Lucrative," The San Diego Union, 10/12/80, pp. A-3, 17.

"In view of the large families of the Slav native population, it could only suit us if girls and women there [Poland and Russia] had as many abortions as possible. Active trade in contraceptives ought to actually be encouraged in the Eastern territories, as we could not possibly have the slightest interest in increasing the non-German population.
…
We must use every means to instill in the population the idea that it is harmful to have several children, the expenses that they cause and the dangerous effect on woman's health.
…
It will be necessary to open special institutions for abortions ['clinics'] and doctors must be able to help out there in case there is any question of this being a breach of their professional ethics."